{"id":2246,"date":"2016-01-22T09:35:46","date_gmt":"2016-01-22T14:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/designlife\/?p=2246"},"modified":"2025-06-26T15:26:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T19:26:11","slug":"swink-la-endowement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/2016\/01\/22\/swink-la-endowement\/","title":{"rendered":"Making the Future Brighter!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, Distinguished Alumnus Rodney L. Swink, FASLA, [\u201877 MLA] and his wife, Juanita Shearer-Swink, FASLA, established the Rodney Swink and Juanita Shearer-Swink Landscape Architecture Graduate Student Endowment<\/strong>. The endowment supports unrestricted funding for students pursuing a master\u2019s level degree or higher in Landscape Architecture (LA) here at the College of Design. The Swinks have a passion for giving back and believe this gift is an important way to help cultivate successful future landscape architects. \u201cWe would have done this sooner if we could have afforded it,\u201d says Swink. \u201cJuanita and I have been thinking about this for a long time. We always thought that it would be great to give back. We\u2019ve done some giving in the past, and it was just a matter of time before we had the means to do something substantial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When pressed about the goal for this endowment, Swink did not hesitate. \u201cThere is a need in our LA program for support. Specifically, we need to expand our ability to attract and retain students. Our competitors have really good scholarship opportunities, so when prospective students are looking, they see what type of scholarships are available, and this endowment will hopefully make a difference. \u201cThe Swinks created the endowment to encourage under-represented students to come to the College of Design.\u201d<\/strong> My concern is that each year, the University admissions requirements for GPA has risen. I worry about the students who are on the edge who don’t<\/em> meet this GPA standard. I hope we don\u2019t get too far ahead trying only to attract the \u2018brightest of the bright,\u2019 but look at these underserved students and give them a chance. We need to remember this and make a plan so that we don\u2019t overlook these students. They really are \u2018diamonds in the rough.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodney is an alumnus with an undergraduate degree in Economics and a master\u2019s in Landscape Architecture and was an NC State Fellow, the precursor to the Caldwell Program. Not the average alumnus, Rodney has participated in or currently works as a member of numerous boards and committees within the University system, including the College of Design Leaders\u2019 Council, Landscape Architecture Advisory Board, vice chair for the JC Raulston Arboretum Board of Advisors, and he was also the 2004 recipient of the College\u2019s \u201cWings on Wings\u201d award. To say that Rodney is committed to the success of the University is an understatement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most everyone characterizes Rodney as someone who is committed to his work and a great mentor who is always willing to encourage students. A former national president of the American Society of Landscape Architects, he possesses great leadership and a passion for realizing the potential and responsibility of landscape architects in society. Asked about his passion, he states, \u201cA great question and I\u2019ve never thought about it. I\u2019ve just been active in stuff<\/em>, and it just seems like the appropriate thing to do. I am a fortunate guy. I would feel remiss not sharing that with other people.\u201d And he does share. As a faculty member here at the College, Rodney inspired students and opened a dialogue with them about what it means to be a landscape architect and the responsibilities it encompasses. \u201cAs landscape architects, we have training that allows us to intervene and support social justice, social equity, and community improvements. I think this is part of our responsibility. Back when I was working here with Randy Hester, FASLA, CFELA, [\u201969 BLA] who has always been a \u2018populist designer\u2019 \u2013 a designer of the people \u2013 he had a great understanding as to what this meant, and this just makes sense to me. To be able to work with those that may not have the voice or the understanding of the system. To intervene on their behalf, to be the voice of the system for them,\u201d he candidly states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodney and Juanita are motivated by their passion for the landscape architecture profession and feel confident that their gift will make a difference not only to students but to the success of the College. \u201cI do hope that others will be inspired to do something to support the program. \u2018If Rodney and Juanita can do this, perhaps we can too.\u2019 It doesn\u2019t have to be a full-fledged scholarship \u2013 it can be any level of commitment \u2013 but any support is helpful. Let\u2019s make it better.\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is reprinted from Designlife magazine, Fall 2015 issue<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"\n\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, Distinguished Alumnus Rodney L. Swink, FASLA, [\u201877 MLA] and his wife, Juanita Shearer-Swink, FASLA, established the Rodney Swink and Juanita Shearer-Swink Landscape Architecture Graduate Student Endowment<\/strong>. The endowment supports unrestricted funding for students pursuing a master\u2019s level degree or higher in Landscape Architecture (LA) here at the College of Design. The Swinks have a passion for giving back and believe this gift is an important way to help cultivate successful future landscape architects. \u201cWe would have done this sooner if we could have afforded it,\u201d says Swink. \u201cJuanita and I have been thinking about this for a long time. We always thought that it would be great to give back. We\u2019ve done some giving in the past, and it was just a matter of time before we had the means to do something substantial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When pressed about the goal for this endowment, Swink did not hesitate. \u201cThere is a need in our LA program for support. Specifically, we need to expand our ability to attract and retain students. Our competitors have really good scholarship opportunities, so when prospective students are looking, they see what type of scholarships are available, and this endowment will hopefully make a difference. \u201cThe Swinks created the endowment to encourage under-represented students to come to the College of Design.\u201d<\/strong> My concern is that each year, the University admissions requirements for GPA has risen. I worry about the students who are on the edge who don't<\/em> meet this GPA standard. I hope we don\u2019t get too far ahead trying only to attract the \u2018brightest of the bright,\u2019 but look at these underserved students and give them a chance. We need to remember this and make a plan so that we don\u2019t overlook these students. They really are \u2018diamonds in the rough.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodney is an alumnus with an undergraduate degree in Economics and a master\u2019s in Landscape Architecture and was an NC State Fellow, the precursor to the Caldwell Program. Not the average alumnus, Rodney has participated in or currently works as a member of numerous boards and committees within the University system, including the College of Design Leaders\u2019 Council, Landscape Architecture Advisory Board, vice chair for the JC Raulston Arboretum Board of Advisors, and he was also the 2004 recipient of the College\u2019s \u201cWings on Wings\u201d award. To say that Rodney is committed to the success of the University is an understatement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most everyone characterizes Rodney as someone who is committed to his work and a great mentor who is always willing to encourage students. A former national president of the American Society of Landscape Architects, he possesses great leadership and a passion for realizing the potential and responsibility of landscape architects in society. Asked about his passion, he states, \u201cA great question and I\u2019ve never thought about it. I\u2019ve just been active in stuff<\/em>, and it just seems like the appropriate thing to do. I am a fortunate guy. I would feel remiss not sharing that with other people.\u201d And he does share. As a faculty member here at the College, Rodney inspired students and opened a dialogue with them about what it means to be a landscape architect and the responsibilities it encompasses. \u201cAs landscape architects, we have training that allows us to intervene and support social justice, social equity, and community improvements. I think this is part of our responsibility. Back when I was working here with Randy Hester, FASLA, CFELA, [\u201969 BLA] who has always been a \u2018populist designer\u2019 \u2013 a designer of the people \u2013 he had a great understanding as to what this meant, and this just makes sense to me. To be able to work with those that may not have the voice or the understanding of the system. To intervene on their behalf, to be the voice of the system for them,\u201d he candidly states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodney and Juanita are motivated by their passion for the landscape architecture profession and feel confident that their gift will make a difference not only to students but to the success of the College. \u201cI do hope that others will be inspired to do something to support the program. \u2018If Rodney and Juanita can do this, perhaps we can too.\u2019 It doesn\u2019t have to be a full-fledged scholarship \u2013 it can be any level of commitment \u2013 but any support is helpful. Let\u2019s make it better.\u201d\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is reprinted from Designlife magazine, Fall 2015 issue<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Giving back to the Pack has led to new opportunities for a brighter future. Rodney Swink and Juanita Shearer-Swink have created an endowment to provide unrestricted funding for under-represented students pursuing a master\u2019s level degree or higher in Landscape Architecture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"source":"","ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-post-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"showAuthor\":false,\"showDate\":true,\"showFeaturedVideo\":false}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,11,1],"tags":[12],"class_list":["post-2246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni-experience","category-giving","category-uncategorized","tag-landscape-architecture"],"displayCategory":null,"acf":{"ncst_posts_meta_modified_date":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2246","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2246"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2246\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29057,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2246\/revisions\/29057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design.ncsu.edu\/architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}